Operating mechanism for multiple point switches



May 27, 1952 w. o. SCHULTZ 2,598,448

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE POINT SWITCHES.

Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

dflfarwey May 27, 1952 w. o. SCHULTZ OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE POINT SWITCHES Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. fizz am 0;

M y 1952 w. o. SCHULTZ 2,598,448

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE POINT SWITCHES Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 zm/m A\ BY 4 95 m KM j/Zorn ey Patented May 27, 1952 OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE POINT SWITCHES William Q. Schultz, Marshfield, Wis., assigno'r to Line Material Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a

corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1949 Serial No. 95,958

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to operating mechanism for a multiple point switch and is particularly directed to mechanism arranged to be interposed between the driving motor and the driven portion of the multiple point switch,

Objects of this invention are to provide. an operating mechanism for a multiple point switch such as a tap changer, capacitor type switch, or other type of switch wherein a movable member isarranged to be moved over a plurality of stationary contact points and which is adapted to be rotated and locked in position in engagement with any desired stationary contact.

Further objects are to provide a novel form of operating mechanism in which spring means is interposed between a driving shaft and a driven Geneva pinion with the Geneva pinion arranged to drive and interlock with a Geneva gear so that a very quick motion is imparted to the Geneva gear and thereafter the Geneva gear is locked in position after each step or operation of the Geneva pinion, the Geneva gear being. carried by a driven shaft adapted to be operatively connected to the multiple point switch mechanism, suitable interlocking means being provided and being released by cam means when the spring means for driving the Geneva pinion has been tensioned a predetermined amount and when the operating shaft has arrived at a predetermined position with reference to the Geneva pinion, to thereby provide positive and quick operation of the switch mechanism from the Geneva gear with an ample amount of energy supplied to overcome any tendency of the switch mechanism to stick.

Further objects are to provide a novel form of driving mechanism for a multiple point switch in which a considerable time delay is provided by means of a Geneva pinion and coacting Geneva gear and that this mechanism is associated with spring driving means which in sures a quick motion of the Geneva gear for each successive step.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a more or less block or diagrammatic view of the apparatus showing it in the relative position between the driving means and the switch mechanism.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the driving mechanism with the driving and driven shafts broken off.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, approximately on the line 33 of Figure 2.

" ing shaft I and the driven shaft 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 44 of Figure 22 Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 showing the position of the parts an instant before operation occurs.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-.B of Figure 3. a

Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 showing the position of the parts, an instant before operation of the mechanism when the mechanism is driven in the reverse direction from that shown in Figure 5..

Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the operating mechanism has been shown as a' block diagram and is indicated by the reference character- A. It is interposed between the driving means such as the electric motor B provided with a reduction mechanism and the multiple point switch indicated generally at C. The drivin shaft is indicated by the reference character I and the driven shaft by the reference character 2.

The device comprises a stationary frame 3 which is secured in any suitable manner, not shown, This frame revolubly support they driv The driven shaft 2- is provided with a. rigidly attached Geneva gear 4 which, in accordance with the; usual construction, is provided with cut-out portio s 5 and locking portions 6 whose outer surface is rounded to fit the cylindrical portion 1 of the Geneva pinion 8 to thereby temporarily lock the Geneva gear 4 against operation after each successive operation of the Geneva pinion.

The Geneva pinion is provided with a pin or driving portion 9 which is adapted to enter the appropriate notch or cut-away portion 5 of the Geneva gear and to thus rotate the Geneva gear one step. It is to be noted that the Geneva pinion 8 is provided with a pair of flanges l0 between which the cylindrical portion 1 of the Geneva pinion is positioned. The pin 9 is carried by the flanges H] as is evident from Figure 2.

The driving shaft I is provided with a hub portion II which has a rigidly attached arm I2 which is provided with a driving pin l3 for driving or tensioning the spring I4. This spring I4 is loosely coiled about the hub ll of the driving shaft l and has oppositely projecting hairpin-like end portions l5 between which the pins 9 and I3 are positioned. In this connection, it is to be noted that a second pin 16, see particularly Figure 2, is provided and is carried by the Geneva pinion. However, the pin it does not project between the flanges of the Geneva pinion, but projects only to the left of the left-hand 3 flange as viewed in Figure 2. The left-hand projecting portion of the pin 9 in Figure 2 and the projecting pin l6 constitute stops which are engaged temporarily by latches IT.

The latches I"! are pivotally carried by a pin l8 which in turn is rigidly carried by the frame 3. The latches l1 and I! are urged towards latching position by means of a spring l9 and are each provided with cam extensions 20 which are positioned on opposite sides of a cam member 2|. The cam member 2| is rigid with the driving shaft l.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

When the driving shaft l is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, the cam 2| releases the appropriate latch I1 and frees the latch from the stop l6. Prior to this, the spring H has been tensioned and consequently the Geneva pinion 8 executes a very rapid, partial rotation and releases the Geneva gear and rotates it one notch, thereafter locking the Geneva gear in place. It is to be noted that the cylindrical portion 1 of the Geneva pinion 8 is provided with a cut-out portion 22 adapted to accommodate the projecting portions 6 when the Geneva gear is released.

It will be seen that a very simple type of operating mechanism has been provided for a multiple point switch which insures a positively quick and powerful action of the driving mechanism to move the multiple point switch one step.

It will be seen further that a considerable time delay is afforded by the successive steps as the Geneva pinion has to execute a considerable portion of a rotation before response of the Geneva gear is obtained and that the Geneva pinion when rotated in the same direction has to rotate a complete revolution between each step of the Geneva gear.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim: 1. Operating mechanism for a multiple point switch comprising a driving shaft and a driven shaft, a Geneva gear carried by said driven shaft,

a Geneva pinion loose on said driving shaft and coacting with said gear to alternately drive and lock said gear in a step-by-step manner in either direction, spring means operatively interposed between said driving shaft and said pinion for driving said pinion from said driving shaft in either direction, a pair of latch means for restraining said pinion against rotation in opposite directions, and cam means carried by said driving shaft for selectively tripping said latch means after said spring means has been tensioned in opposite directions.

2. Operating mechanism for a multiple point switch comprising a driving shaft arranged to rotate a large number of times in either direction and a driven shaft, a Geneva gear carried by said driven shaft, a Geneva pinion loose on said driving shaft and coacting with said gear to al ternately drive and lock said gear in a step-bystep manner, a pair of latch members, stops carried by said pinion and arranged to respectively engage said latch members when said pinion is rotated in opposite directions, a spring operatively positioned between said driving shaft and said pinion, and cam means carried by said driving shaft and arranged to selectively release said latches from said stops when said driving shaft is rotated in opposite directions, said driven shaft being arranged to be rotated by said Geneva gear to any one of a plurality of positions in either direction.

WILLIAM O. SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 642,163 Schroeder Jan. 30, 1900 929,743 Wooden Aug. 3, 1909 1,639,702 Porak Aug. 23, 1927 2,270,867 Cotesworth et a1. 1- Jan. 27, 1942 2,474,945 Johnson July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 211,419 Great Britain Feb. 21, 1924 

